Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

I joined this honorable Forum September 8, 2005 and this is my 9,000th Post. HOLY CRAP! That is a large number...

Does it mean that I have no life??? [:'(] Thanks to all you guys over the last eight years. It has been an honor.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I joined this honorable Forum September 8, 2005 and this is my 9,000th Post. HOLY CRAP! That is a large number...

Pfft...noob. [:'(]

[;)]

Yes, it does mean you've been assimilated. We will add your distinctiveness to the collective.

[John 3rd]

Are we more Borg-like then...say...Klingon?

Thanks Chickenboy.

[zuluhour]

waiting intently...

[John 3rd]

Dan went to wedding yesterday and just sent me the turn. Running now...

[John 3rd]

August 17, 1942

A decent day is this.

North Pacific
No major activities. The movement of troops is beginning to wind down with everyone being where they plan to be. Have several large supply and fuel convoys running up to here and then that is about it. Have pulled a good number of the AKs back towards Tokyo. Need to increase my ships running around hauling resources. Grabbed nearly 50 from up here.

I-159 poked her nose into Cordova and sank AK Nightingale with a pair of Torps.

Central Pacific
Normal supply and fuel TFs moving here. Reinforcement convoys have finished their work as well. Am trying to decide where to place my two mobile Inf Div that are available right here. Am thinking of Ailinglaplap and Kusaie. Might look at Rabaul for the one as well. Need to make that decision fairly quick.

South Pacific
Very quiet.

Australia
Have been lifting resources out of Normanton. Can only bring in 2-3 small AK or AKL due to Port size but have really gotten a pretty good haul here. Dan tries to hit these ships with Hudson's but has had very little luck so far.

I left 65th Brigade as the main troop component in Exmouth and lifted out the SNLF Brigade that was also there. Moved it to Oosthaven to provide a reserve Inf unit for that area.

DEI
Looking pretty sound. I REALLY need to rearrange the TK--AO--AK--AKL TF running around here. Might totally disrupt my convoy system for a bit and get things better organized.

Thinking about buying out a Manchurian Brigade and sending it to Cocos to free-up the 4th ID. If I pull the ID out and replace with the Brigade I can add a CD unit to the garrison as well. Think I'd like that so there is another major Inf unit available for duty if needed.

Singapore just got 50,000 supply and is now refitting a bunch of aircraft. CV Junyo is repaired tomorrow and shall join-up with her sister and head for Marcus.

Burma
I get some sinkings here but not where I plan. Dan runs some ships into Ramree and restocks it with 50 Fighters. I have several small Sweeps go in and my Tojos take losses while dishing it back. While the furball is going on up there, a strike by 12 Zero and 19 Kate penetrate the defense against little opposition and sink a DMS and AK with Torps. The AK is LOADED because I destroy 146 Vehicles. NICE! A small victory...

Dan is--apparently--basing his B-17s at Imphal. Over two dozen hit Mandalay and do little damage. Order some recon of that base. About the reliable way to kill those monsters is to do it on the ground.

My attack at 55,46 occurs. Both ID assault a Brit Inf Brig, Easyern HQ, an Inf Bn, and an Artie unit. Barely miss a 1-1. Losses a re pretty light and we'll see what happens. Not bad but not good either.

Have now got 3 of the 4 ML SS in Singers now. They are ordered to lay mines in that hex. He has ships going there and I am sure the use of 120 mines will be quite enjoyable.

I-27 sinks AK Ima near Koggala this day and misses another AK in the same TF. SS have definitely been on a tear as of late.

China
Very calm with both sides moving units around the lines.

Home Islands
BB Musashi enters service! GREAT. THe yards points opened by this shall allow me to accelerate every CV left due in 1944--1945.

[John 3rd]

Just found out how much action is occurring elsewhere when Burma's skies are closed due to rain. The answer? NOT MUCH!

Am finishing a few little dot hex captures and took Manado this day. It sort of got forgotten as I swept along and just never got around to grabbing it. There are 4-5 dot bases SW of there that need dealt with.

The 4 Nvl Guard that took Manado each are now prepping for a western Sumatra base to add to their strength. The Brigade at Manado (4th) will move back to Java and serve as an Infantry Reserve there.

Burma
1. Only major aerial action today was around Mandalay. A group of 25 4EB and then another of 14 came in and were met by nearly 40 Fighters. Two Liberators dropped and a Fort. Several more were destroyed on landing so we'll call this a good day there.

2. The 4EB are flying from Imphal (AF-7) and I show no fighters present there. Will try to smash it in a turn or two with 100+ Helen. Cannot keep my Tojo's flyng at full strength so I am resting my big Sentais for 2 days and then shall Sweep.

3. He is concentrating his IO Fleet at Akyab. Interesting choice. It shows as having 135 Fighters at the base. I am toying with the idea of Sweeping the base with everything I have then launch a Torp Plane attack that afternoon using Kates and Bettys. If it gets swept by 3 Sentai of 42 Tojo in the morning, then the afternoon skies MIGT be clear enough for Zero escorted raids to penetrate and do some damage. Want to think on that some...


CV Junyo gets back into action today. Her Torp damage is done so she forms up with Hiyo and Ryujo and heads north to pick-up her air group. The Akyab Raid COULD have them added into the attack. Am not sure if that is a wise risk but these three CVs could be added to the 4 CVE for the combined attack. The 7 CV would carry 111 Z, 69 V, and 58 K.. This would be a sizeable wallop added to the land side of the attack. Problem is I could not GUARANTEE they would attack Akayb shipping. My luck would have them attack somewhere nearby with 5,000,000 fighters flying CAP...

[John 3rd]

Here is a 'normal' mix of Allied planes the Japanese are fighting in Burma right now.

The Escorts fought off the CAP and the Kates sank a pair of AKL. Japan lost 3 Z and 6 Kates for 4 Allied.

[Q-Ball]

Did you accelerate Musashi, or was that part of the RA mod?

I would call you "Crazy John" if you did accelerate her.....[:'(]

[John 3rd]

She comes in a few months earlier in RA. I did manage to not have to stop her while getting the other '42 CVs completed.

[ny59giants]

Tojos sweep...Tojos sweep...
Rinse...repeat...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Tojos sweep...Tojos sweep...
Rinse...repeat...

+1

Sweeping Tojos versus...well...anything the Allies have in July 1942? All. Day. Long.

[MrBlizzard]

Hi John, in RA 5.0 you still have A6M4-A6M4J-A6M8J line? do you think it's worth to invest in that R&D path?
I read quickly your AAR, probably I lost something, are you still planning to invade Bengal?

[John 3rd]

The M4 is an excellent aircraft. I have found it to be very competitive through 1943. As to the later airframes, I do not know. FatR is better to ask that. Stanislav?

I am going to sling the CVs and CVEs into the Bay of Bengal for a serious raid. This force can take on anything in the IO EXCEPT to the US CVs. I think they are at Hawaii by now. If they are doing what I expect then they are a long ways away. If I am wrong...well...it could be BAD! We just put 8-23-42 into the books and I expect to launch this raid in about 3 days. Have moved some more Emilys into the area to better my knowledge of current movements as well as recon major ports.

[John 3rd]

August 24, 1942

We should Sweep: RIGHT?

The day over the skies of Ramree:

32 Tojo vs. 101 Fighters: WILD Furball
17 Zero 19 Kate vs. 95 F: Lose 2 Z and 3 Kate but sink an AVP and AK.
36 Tojo vs. 69 F: Solid Tojo Work
23 Tojo vs. 51 F: Solid Tojo Work

By Combat Report the score is 4 Tojo, 2 Zero, and 3 Kate for 24 Allied Fighters. The REAL Report, however, shows 8 Tojo (5 ATA and 3 on Ground) for 57 Fighters (15 Hurri, 11 Kitty, 22 P-40, and 9 P-39/-400).

Should we Sweep: YES!

Tomorrow we test the skies over Akyab...

[obvert]

That's starting to look like good stuff there. Keep it up!

[John 3rd]

Dan spent the day hiking while I was working an Open Shift (Lucky him!) and I just emailed to prod out a turn. It is on the way I am told.

GOOD NEWS:
KB is now fully refitted. Tomorrow's turn will see CarDiv1 reach Yokohoma and everyone shall be together for the upcoming party. Will go through the specifics of what I plan for Fleet TF Organization:

KB-1: CarDiv1, 1 CVL, 2 BC
KB-2: CarDiv2, 2 CVL, 2 BC
KB-3: CarDIv5, 2 CVL, BB's Yamato and Musashi
STF: Several CAs that will gain BB--BCs if needed

CAs 10 present, 8 CL, and 36 DD.

This is the KB in late-August 1942. Will sit in Yokohoma for a day or two and then move to Marcus for the time being.

[John 3rd]

August 25, 1942

WE Sweep both Ramree and Akyab with two Sentai of Tojo each and get OK results. Have figured out that THREE Sweeps are truly much more stronger then doing two. Lesson learned in that we'll concentrate on a base each day and not divide efforts.

Totals:

Akyab had 73 Allied Fighters
Ramree had 33 F

Japan lost 24 Tj (12 ATA--12 on Ground) in exchange for 43 Enemy (10 Hurricane, 20 P-39/-400, and 13 P-40)

Learned a VALUABLE at Akyab. Two Sweep cleared the skies. I shall do the same with FOUR Sweeps in 2-3 Days and launch a massed CV--LBA attack on Akyab's shipping. LOTS of warships present...ummmm....Japan hungry...

[John 3rd]

August 26-27, 1942

Ramree Area
Have to admit I am beginning to like this scenario some. My Tojos are knocking down the enemy fighters and their morale is headed down as some are beginning to break away from the fight early. Gotta like that.

Man---LOTS of planes are moving into Burma. I have 3 Daitai of Betty---Nell, 2 Daitai of Kates as well as an equal number of Zeros that will base out of Rangoon. Magwe will carry a BUNCH of Tojo as well as 36+ Vals. Prome serves as a Tojo Base as well. Mandalay will be stocked with a crapload of Helen--Sally. Add to this total 244 planes on the mini-KB (110 Z, 79 Val, 55 kate) and we have a massive concentration of fighting power to fling at Ramree and Akyab.

The last two days have seen my Kates sortie and sink 4 AKL, 1 AM, 2 AK, and 1 CM. The 26th saw just a few losses but the 27th was rough with losing 15 Zero and 12 Kates. SS are quite active with an AK sunk each day.

We are pulling the aerial trigger on the 29th.

Yokohoma
Air Search out of the Aleutians is picking up several TF SE at extreme range.

Time to move the Kaigun. The Fleet departs Yokohoma for Marcus. Organization:

KB-1 (Yamaguchi Tamon) Akagi, Kaga, Ryujo, 2 BC, 2 CA, 1 CL, 9 DD
KB-2 (Nagumo Chuichi) Hiryu, Soryu, Shoho, Zuiho, 2 BC, 2 CA, 1 CL, 9 DD
KB-3 (Kusaka--I think) Shokaku, Zuikaku, Nisshin, 2 BB, 2 CA, 1 CL, 7 DD
STF 3 CA, 3 CL, 4 DD

That is the state of the state...

[John 3rd]

August 29, 1942

The Japanese SS Fleet had a fairly rough start to the campaign. I could not believe the amount of DUDS and MISSES that occurred from Dec--Mar! Since those opening months the subs have been doing steadily better. There was good success around western Australia during Dan's Campaign there and lots of hits as well as sinkings now occurring in the Bay of Bengal and IO. An area of steady accomplishment has been up north in the Aleutians and Gulf of Alaska.

The 29th serves as a banner day as the sub arm sinks THREE ships!

I-159 sinks AK Hawaiian near Seward.

I-3 sinks AK Ohioan also near Seward

I-175 sinks AK Diamond Head near French Frigate Shoal.

Not a bad day whatsoever...